Plans for a high-tech drone company to conduct research and development in Riverhead has emerged as an issue in a heated race for town supervisor.

In a Thursday evening debate in Jamesport, Supervisor Sean Walter and Councilwoman Jodi Giglio split over a proposal to lease a town-owned runway to Luminati Aerospace LLC, which recently bought 16.3 acres at a Calverton industrial park.

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Plans for a high-tech drone company to conduct research and development in Riverhead has emerged as an issue in a heated race for town supervisor.

In a Thursday evening debate in Jamesport, Supervisor Sean Walter and Councilwoman Jodi Giglio split over a proposal to lease a town-owned runway to Luminati Aerospace LLC, which recently bought 16.3 acres at a Calverton industrial park.

Luminati plans to develop solar-power drones capable of projecting Internet service. Walter said the company is affiliated with a well-known, multibillion-dollar tech company. Luminati officials have declined to identify their backers.

Giglio said she and another councilperson believe Luminati should be charged more for use of the runway than the fee under consideration by the town board: $31,810 per year, subject to annual cost-of-living increases.

Giglio said Walter negotiated the price with Luminati officials and cited it as an example of the supervisor acting "unilaterally." She said it's the same price paid by the runway's former tenant, Skydive Long Island.